Closed receptacle or case



27,1938. I M; L.RATHBU N -2,1 41,449

CLOSED RECEPTAGLE OR CASE Filed Dec. 2, i956 ///IIIIIIIIIIIIIIYIIIIIIIIWern/mmwm Frs-E m 1m 6mm,

Patented Dec. 22', 1938 UNI-TED srA'r -zs PATENTOFFICE Merrill L.Bathbun, Jamestown, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1938, Serial No. 113,864

3Claims- This invention relates to an improvement in closed receptaclesor cases and more particularly to receptacles comprising three or moreelements.

The invention is more specifically directed to the provision of a closedreceptacle having suitable base and cover elements. Between theseelements is located one or more intermediate elements. The intermediateelements may combine with the base and cover elements to determine thedepth of the receptacle. The method of pivotally joining all of theseelements, in modified form, is that employed and disclosed in my Patents1,833,305, 2,014,951, and 2,046,133. It is intended that one or moreintermediate elements will serve to divide the interior of thereceptacle into several compartments, thereby adapting the receptaclefor a variety of uses.

Although the receptacle in the present invention is produced from amoldable susbtance, it will be understood that the specific materialfrom which the receptacle is formed has no bearing on the inventioninasmuch as wood or metal may be used with equal satisfaction inpracticing the invention.

One of the objects of the invention lies in the provision of a closedreceptacle comprising three or more pivotally connected elements.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of one or moreelements interposed between base and cover elements which serve inconjunction therewith to determine the depth of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a closedreceptacle having intermediate elements which cooperate with the coverand base elements to form the side walls of the receptacle and which mayprovide a plurality of trays or compartments within the receptacle.

Another object of the invention lies in the adaptation of the hingeconstruction disclosed in my earlier patents (enumerated above) to areceptacle embodying three or more elements.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understoodfrom a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunctionwith, the accompanying drawing and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof one modification of the invention showing a three element receptaclein partly opened position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the invention with the cover partlybroken away to disclose the position of the structure utilized to securethe elements of the receptacle in pivotal relationsh p;

, Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the rearportion of thereceptacle, taken substantially on line 3- -3 of Fig. 2,showing the pivotal connection between a receptacle cover and anintermediate element;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, takensubstantially on line ,l-4 of Fig. 2, showing the pivotal connectionbetween an intermediate element and the base element of a receptacle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing three elements ofa receptacle in position for assembly; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the position assumed by thecover element when opened with respect to an intermediate element.

Referring to the drawing, one modification of the invention, generallyindicated by the reference numeral I0, is shown to be comprised of abase element ll, cover l2, and intermediate element l3. Although only athree element receptacle is shown and described, it will be understoodthat the receptacle may include several intermediate elements betweenbase and cover elements.

The base element II is formed with a bottom wall I5, side walls l6,front wall l1, and a reinforced rear wall l8. The wall l8 may have therelative thickness shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, or may havereinforced portions at the locations where the base element is to beconnected to an intermediate element. Along the upper edge of thereinforced wall I8 is a rolled portion or bead I9. The diameter of thisbead is preferably less than the thickness of the wall l8 and provides aledge or shoulder 20 upon which a part of the intermediate element I3may rest when these elements are relatively closed. If the wall 18 is oflesser thickness than shown in the drawing, the bead may be offsetrearwardly of the receptacle and thus the ledge or shoulder 20 may alsobe produced. If the bead I9 is rearwardly ofiset, it will be apparentthat greater than one hundred and eighty degrees thereof is provided forcontact with a corresponding part on the intermediate element. The beadl9 may be interrupted at one or more places in its length by a recess orslot 22 which continues downwardly'of the reinforced wall Ill. The basewall 23 of the recess is preferably formed in a predetermined curve orprovided with a suitable projection and terminates in a spring seat 24.The curvature of the wall 23 or the projection on the surface thereofconstitutes a stop to limit movement of the intermediate element l3 to adesired degree by contact thereof with a strap spring which forms a partof the pivot hinge structure.

The cover 32 is formed with a top wall 28, side walls 21, front wall 28,and a rear wall 29. The

wall 29 may be reinforced throughout its length throughout its length ormay have one or more reinforced portions. If the receptacle is made withreinforced portions, the number thereof in the intermediate element l3must correspond to the number of reinforced portions of the base andcover elements or of further adjacent intermediate elements. The upperedge of the rear wall 39 is formed with a bead 40 which corresponds insize and position, with respect to the rear edge of the receptacle, tothe bead of the base element. This bead is interrupted by one or morerecesses or slots 42 which correspond in position to the recess 32 ofthe wall 29 of the cover element l2. The base wall 43 of this recess iscurved and terminates in a spring seat 44. A spring clip 46 having clawends 41 is adapted to engage spring seats 34 and 44 of the cover andintermediate elements respectively and serves to secure the bead 40 inposition against the seat 3|. When the cover element is moved into openposition (see Figure 6) the curved base walls 33 and 43 of recesses 32and 42 form a continuous curved surface against which the centralportion of a spring clip 46 contacts for the purpose of limiting ordetermining the degree of opening of the cover element relative to theintermediate element.

The lower edge of the wall 39 of element I3 is formed with a seat 50which is adapted to receive the bead iii of element II. A suitablerecess or slot 5| is made adjacent the seat 5il, the base wall 52thereof, being curved and cooperating with the curved wall 23 of walll8, when elements H and I3 are relatively pivoted to constitute a stopor opening limit. A further spring 54 engages a seat 55 of the elementl3 and seat 24 of element Ii. It will be noted that the intermediateelement l3 has a base wall 38 and that the slot 5| extends into thiswall in order that the spring 54 may project therethrough to secureelements II and I3 as above described. It is contemplated that theintermediate element l3 may be formed without the base wall 38, therebyconstituting a shell by which to increase the depth of the receptacle,or that a top wall may be provided. In the'present instance, wall 38provides a closed compartment the depth of the base element II, andforms with the cover element I 2 a compartment approximately twice thedepth of that of the base element. If the base and cover elements of thereceptacle are identical, the box, of course, may be inverted and thesmaller size compartment will then become merely a shelf inasmuch as theside walls thereof are removed when the cover element is moved to openposition. It is considered, however, that any wall spanning the sides ofthe intermediate element may be located as desired to provide large orsmall compartments at the top or bottom of the receptacle orcompartments of identical size. It

amines may be desirable. in adapting a receptacle of this class tocertain uses, to increase this height of the side and front walls ofeither or both base and cover elements. Thus. the intermediate elementwould consist of the reinforced wall 22 only and would serve as meansfor opening a cover element approximately one hundred and eighty degreeswith respect to a base or body element.

Attention is now particularly directed to Figure 2 in conjunction withFigures 3 and 4. The present modification discloses-a closed receptaclecomprising three elements. In a receptacle of this size it is foundexpedient to provide two spring clips for connecting each pair ofrelatively pivotable elements. If the intermediate element i3 was of adepth greater than that required to introduce the upper and lower springseats and mount springs 43 and 54, it would be possible to arrange allof the springs, seats, etc. in verticalalignment. Inasmuch as theintermediate element is of comparatively little depth, it is necessaryto offset the spring seats and springs substantially as shown in thedrawing. It will be noted that springs 45 and seats 34 and 44 arelaterally offset from seats 24 and 55'which position springs 54. When itis desired to include more than one intermediate element in a receptacleof this type, the spring location is staggered throughout the full depthof the box.

Although elements of the receptacle shown in the drawing are each formedwith a bead located within the outer elements thereof, it is contemplated that a greater degree of opening may be had as between anypair of elements by rearwardly ofisetting either bead l9 or 40. It willthus be apparent that applicant can open the base element and cover onehundred and eighty degrees or more with respect to each other and theintermediate element will be ninety degrees to the other elements. Areceptacle open to this position can be utilized for the display of allmanner of jewelry in suitably positioned pads in the intermediateelement. The intermediate element might also be arranged to securecigarettes, manicuring equipment etc., in such a manner that thereceptacle would constitute a means of display for these articles. It isthus evident that many uses of a multiple element receptacle of the typeshown and described are possible and also that various modifications oradaptations of the structure herein disclosed are contemplated and maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patent is: I

l. A receptacle comprising base and cover elements, an intermediateelement having a vertical wall, a pivot bead on one horizontal edge ofsaid wall, a pivot seat on the other horizontal edge of said wall, acorresponding pivot bead and seat on the base and cover elements, springseats in all of said elements, said seats being arranged in pairs, onein each adjacent element, and being in operative alignment, one pair ofsaid seats being laterally offset and overlapping another pair of saidseats to facilitate use thereof in a relatively shallow receptacle andsprings engageable with said seats for securing all of said elements inpivotal relationship.

2. A structure of the class described comprising at least three elementscooperating to form a closed receptacle, complementary pivotal means incorresponding walls of pairs of adiacent elein corresponding portions ofpairs of adjacent ments, spring seats in all of said elements, saidseats being arranged in cooperative pairs, oneelements, spring seats inall of said elements, said seats being arranged in pairs, one seat ineach adjacent element, and being in substantially vertical alignment,each pair of said seats being further characterized by being laterallyoffset with respect to the vertically next adjacent pair of seats, and aspring engaged with each pair of seats and securing the complementarypivotal means of a pair of adjacent elements in operable 1 pivotalrelationship.

MERRILL L. RATHBUN.

